DONCASTER ROVERS 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1.
It was all change for Oldham Athletic in David Dunn’s first match as interim manager, a creditable draw at Doncaster Rovers
Dunn rang the changes and certainly stamped his mark on the side recalling six players, David Cornell in goal, Timothee Dieng and Jonathan Burn to defence, Mike Jones and Lee Croft to midfield and Dominic Poleon.
The players making way were Dunn, Joel Coleman, Eoghan O’Connell, Simonas Stankevicius and the injured Joseph Mills.
Latics, beaten 5-1 at home by Peterborough United one week earlier, displayed character after falling behind to an Andy Butler goal as loanee Jonathan Burns’ first goal earned a point.
There was a bright start by Latics as Mark Yeates forced a decent save from keeper Thorsten Stuckmann.
It took Doncaster, also without a manager with Rob Jones in temporary chanrge, until mid half before creating their first chances as Curtis Main and James Coppinger had good openings in quick succession.
The breakthrough came after 26 minutes when Butler steered home a free kick from Cameron Stewart. It came against the run of play, but Latics were level within 10 minutes when Burn headed home Yeates’ corner, although in took a referee’s assistant to signal the ball had crossed the line.
Doncaster had two chances to regain the lead when Stewart’s free kick struck an upright and Danny N’Guessan could not convert the follow up.
They were denied again moments later by the woodwork, this time from Oscar Gobern as Doncaster ought to have been ahead at the break.
Doncaster shaded the early part of the second period as Gobern and N’Guessan had chances to regain the lead.
Latics made their first change shortly after the hour mark when Stankevicius replaced Poleon.
But it was Doncaster who looked the likelier to win the game with Latics forced to defend doggedly.
Coppinger and N’Guessan had decent chances, but were unable to find a route to goal.
In the latter stages, Doncaster had a succession of further goal attempts as Butler, N’Guessan, Stewart and Gary McKenzie could all have scored the winner for the hosts, but Latics managed to cling on for a point.